Cardiovascular complications after androgen deprivation

Isn’t it ironic? We thought we’d left the cardiovascular complications of hormone behind … but they’re still with us.

In the early days of androgen deprivation (hormone suppression), we used estrogens, especially diethylstilbesterol (DES). That drug was discontinued because of its association with clots and emboli and fatal cardiovascular complications.

A new study has now shown that men on androgen deprivation are at 20 percent higher risk for cardiovascular complications. In other words, the study indicates the need for extreme caution — especially in circumstances in which androgen deprivation benefits are not clearly established. In any event, men who receive androgen deprivation treatment should be well educated about the signs of cardiovascular events (chest pain, swelling of the calves).

In the meantime, we should examine whether interventions that work in other contexts (diet, exercise) can help to reduce the apparent cardiovascular side effects of androgen deprivation.